EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (24-14, 14-6 ODAC) solidified its spot as the #2 seed in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament with a split against No. 22 University of Lynchburg (30-10, 13-7 ODAC) Tuesday afternoon. The nationally-ranked Hornets took game one 5-1 while the Wasps claimed a 3-1 win in the nightcap. The doubleheader also served as Senior Day for the Wasps, who honored their six seniors prior to the start of game one.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 22 Lynchburg 5, Emory & Henry 1
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 3, No. 22 Lynchburg 1
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (24-14, 14-6 ODAC); Lynchburg (30-10, 13-7 ODAC)
Game One – No. 22 Lynchburg 5, Emory & Henry 1
Lynchburg broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fourth on a single up the middle by Carol Oberhelman. Later in the inning, the Hornets pushed the margin to 5-0 on a three-run homer by Taylor Mabry.
Emory & Henry got on the board in the bottom of the seventh to spoil the shutout as senior right fielder Rachel Smoot (Riner, Va.) tagged a solo home run to left centerfield.
Alex Cisar picked up the win in the circle for the Hornets, allowing just one run on seven hits with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Taylor Belknap grabbed the save, closing out the final two-thirds of the seventh. E&H sophomore Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) struck out 10 despite the loss, allowing just one earned run on five hits.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 3, No. 22 Lynchburg 1
In the top of the second, Kortney Leazer put the Hornets up 1-0 with a single to centerfield, plating Sarah Commons. The Wasps answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs for the 3-1 advantage.
Senior designated player Vangie Borchert (Asheville, N.C.) got things started with a RBI double down the left field line while sophomore first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) had a single up the middle and freshman left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) added a sacrifice fly.
Emory & Henry's Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing just one unearned run on four hits with five strikeouts. Belknap suffered the loss, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will open the postseason on Friday in the 2019 ODAC Tournament. As the #2 seed, the Wasps will take on seventh-seeded Ferrum College at 2:00 p.m.
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